FULL SYNOPSIS

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King Saul of Israel, once fair and just but now mad with power, is denounced by the prophet Samuel, who predicts that a young monarch of extraordinary intelligence and goodness will succeed to the throne. Guided by the Lord, Samuel chooses David, the youngest son of a Bethlehem shepherd, and has him brought to the court of Saul. When the youth's goodness and wisdom begin to attract a following--particularly Saul's son and daughter, Jonathan and Michal--the evil prime minister, Abner, advises the king to send David to arrange a truce with the Philistines, with whom Israel has long been warring. David confronts King Asrod of the Philistines, who, impressed by the boldness of the youth, agrees to a truce if David can slay Goliath, the powerful Philistine giant. Armed only with a sling, David deftly evades Goliath's javelins, fells him with a stone, and then kills him with his own sword. David returns in triumph to Israel. Abner attempts to strike him down, but Saul kills his prime minister and then, mindful of Samuel's prophesy, offers David the hand of Michal.